Visual Communication

In the Anthropology of Art by Layton, there is a section about proto-dynastic art in Egypt. This is about the art found around 3000 BC just as the kingdom became unified and became into an empire. Layton bring up two specific pieces of art that are important in multiple ways, the first is that these are some of the earliest pieces of art found in the area of Egypt. The second is that these pieces not only are they pieces of art but are also serving as utilitarian tools. The last and most interesting as these pieces of art are also references to important historical events that happened around the same time. These two pieces that Layton discuses in this book are the palate of Narmer and the ceremonial mace head of the Scorpion King. Both of these pieces date to around 3000 BC at the end of the war between North and South Egypt, and its first ruler from the North. These are both utilitarian pieces that one is used as a weapon and the other for eye liner for the glare from the sand and sun. This is fairly unique among art, but what is truly unique is that they are essentially historical documents from the winning side unifying the Egyptian.

This plays very well into this chapter about visual communication because these pieces do not have contained any words at all, it is all images and symbols that covey actions and meanings. These by examining these artifacts and works of art archaeologist can create an interpretation of these, to better understand what they are depicting and what the artists are trying to convey. Through interpretations these pieces can be seen almost like an historical document describing an important event around the times these were created. Layton’s describes some of symbols and interpretations of the palate of Narmer, “in historical Egypt the bull was frequently used as symbol of the kings power , and so the bull breaking open a town wall can be seen as allegorical vision of an attack directed by the king” (Layton, 135).

These pieces bring up an important aspect of art that really hasn’t been discussed in class that much and that is the use of images to communicate information. Like using allegories or metaphors to tell convey a meaning that if put into certain compositions can be used to convey information or a story. This is used in many cultures before writing systems, or used to give an artistic representation such as Trajan’s column from Rome. Many cultures even use their writing systems in a similar way like the Mayan, and Egyptian hieroglyphics in which they use images to represent their language.  So just as art can convey meaning and emotions or has ritual context some use imagery to tell stories or give information about an event or person in history.

Palate of Narmer

Layton, Robert. The Anthropology of Art. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1991. Print.